12 hours of Professional Development 
5.5 hours Face to Face,4 hours pre-workshop, 2.5 hours post-workshop assignment
Facilitated by Earth Ethics Institute Staff        

This workshop consists of four sessions, each focused on the interconnection of human health with environmental and community health. In this workshop, participants will become aware of the environmental health concerns that exist within our communities and how community planning and design affect human and ecological health. The link between industrial consumer culture and human and community health will be explored as well as the relationship between consumption levels and human well-being. Additionally, participants will explore the impact of consumption on planetary waste and those impacts on community health. Finally, participants will be asked to broaden their thinking about health to include the ecological realities in which we live exploring how our human health and well-being is ultimately dependent on the health of the planet. (Part 2 of a 2 part series, Part 1 is prerequisite.)

Objectives

-Identify environmental health concerns that exist within our own communities

-Connect how community planning and design affect human and ecological health

-Link how personal consumption and product life cycle impact human and community health

-Describe the role of biodiversity in maintaining health

-Evaluate the health impacts and threats to biodiversity of climate change

-Develop a curriculum component related to the interconnection of human well-being and environmental health

Evaluation:

Participants must attend ALL 4 sessions and complete all requirements to earn 12 FPD credits, partial credit will not be awarded. Evaluation will include completion of assigned readings prior to sessions two through four - minimum of four hours and completion of workshop. Finally, participant must develop a discipline specific lesson plan or course module that incorporates key concepts of this workshop. Lesson plan is due to the director of Earth Ethics Institute within three weeks of the end of the workshop, and will be posted on the Earth Ethics webpage.

Facilitators:

Colleen Ahern-Hettich has served as director of the Earth Ethics Institute (EEI) since 2004. Ms. Ahern-Hettich has served on several boards and committees including: Environmental Education Providers of Miami-Dade County, Advisory Committee of South Florida Environmental Art Project, Inc.; Economic, Social and Health Issues Committee of the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force, Be Healthy Board, and City of Miami Green Commission.

Mike Matthews has served as EEI Program Professional for InterAmerican Campus since 2012. Matthews holds an M.S. in environmental studies from Florida International University. He has taught on the faculty of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Marine and Ecological Sciences Department and as an adjunct professor at Florida International University.

Netiva Kolitz has served as EEI Program Professional at Kendall Campus since 2012. Ms. Kolitz holds a B.S. in Psychology, and has completed graduate course work in Environmental Studies and Education. She has more than 10 years of experience in program coordination, environmental education, and public outreach. Ms. Kolitz worked in the Education Department of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Alison Walker is EEI Program Professional at Wolfson Campus. She has worked in environmental education, community outreach, and professional development for more than 12 years as an adjunct professor, and at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the US Department of Agriculture. Ms. Walker received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Plant Sciences from University of Florida.

Stephen Nesvacil is EEI Program Professional at North Campus. Mr. Nesvacil served as Chaplain Emeritus at Unity on the Bay and developed and facilitated The Green Intention Workshop as part of a process to participate in the Unity Worldwide Ministries EarthCare Program. In addition, Nesvacil is certified to facilitate “The 21-Day Q Process,” an integrated cognitive shadow-work practice that weaves together the latest research emerging from neurobiology, developmental psychology, family systems theory, attachment theory, quantum science and perennial spiritual wisdom.